Methods and apparatus for use in updating application programs in memory of a network device

A network device, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a network interface coupled to the one or more processors;
• memory coupled to the one or more processors;
• the one or more processors being operative to:
• maintain storage of an application program having a length L1 in the memory from a memory address A1 to a memory address A2−1;
• perform a download procedure with use of the network interface to receive an updated application program having a length L2>L1;
• store the updated application program in the memory from a memory address A3=A2+(L2−L1) for the length L1 and continuing in a circular buffer fashion from the memory address A2 for the length L2−L1;
• and
• copy over the application program with the updated application program beginning at the memory address A1.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a storage medium;
• computer instructions stored in the storage medium;
• the computer instructions being executable by one or more processors of a network device for:
• maintaining storage of an application program having a length L1 in memory from a memory address A1 to a memory address A2−1;
• performing a download procedure to receive an updated application program having a length L2>L1;
• storing the updated application program from a memory address A3=A2+(L2−L1) for the length L1 and continuing in a circular buffer fashion from the memory address A2 for the length L2−L1;
• and
• copying over the application program with the updated application program beginning at the memory address A1.